Lexical Summary gerushah: Expulsion, banishment, possession Original Word: גְרֻשָׁה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance exaction Feminine passive participle of garash; (abstractly) dispossession -- exaction. see HEBREW garash NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom garash Definition expulsion, violence NASB Translation expropriations (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [גְּרוּשָׁה] noun feminine expulsion, violence. Only plural suffix גְּרֻשֹׁתֵיכֶם Ezekiel 45:9 your acts of expulsion (compare Ew Da; 'Raubereien' Sm Co). Topical Lexicon Term Overview Derived from a root conveying the idea of being “driven out” or “expelled,” גְּרוּשָׁה appears but once in the Hebrew canon at Ezekiel 45:9, where it is rendered “evictions”. The prophet uses the noun to denounce oppressive practices among Israel’s leaders, calling for the cessation of forced removals that violate covenantal justice. Canonical Setting in Ezekiel 45:9 “Thus says the Lord GOD: ‘Enough, O princes of Israel! Put away violence and oppression and execute justice and righteousness. Stop dispossessing My people,’ declares the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel addresses princes who, through corrupt administration, confiscate lands and homes, compelling families to abandon their inheritance. The term therefore functions as a concrete indictment of systemic sin within the nation during the exile, highlighting social injustice as a breach of divine law. Historical Background 1. Pre-exilic land distribution safeguarded family inheritance (Numbers 36:7; 1 Kings 21:3). Theological Significance Justice and righteousness are twin pillars of God’s throne (Psalm 89:14). Unlawful dispossession contradicts His covenant ethics: By singling out גְּרוּשָׁה, Ezekiel exposes sin not merely as personal immorality but as institutional oppression, demanding structural repentance before worship can be acceptable (Ezekiel 45:9–10). Practical Ministry Applications 1. Advocacy: Church leaders are called to oppose modern parallels—forced evictions, land grabs, predatory lending—reflecting God’s concern for the vulnerable (James 1:27). Biblical Theology and Christological Foreshadowing Jesus, the righteous Prince, inaugurates a kingdom where no subject is dispossessed (Luke 4:18). His ministry fulfilled Isaiah’s jubilee vision, offering eternal inheritance that cannot be “taken away” (1 Peter 1:4). Ezekiel’s prohibition of גְּרוּשָׁה thus anticipates the Messiah’s reign of justice. Related Concepts and Cross-References • Oppression (Exodus 22:21–24; Micah 2:1–2) Summary Though occurring only once, גְּרוּשָׁה encapsulates Scripture’s unwavering stance against coercive displacement. Ezekiel’s rebuke urges leaders—and by extension every believer—to align social structures with God’s justice, anticipating the ultimate restoration secured in Christ. Forms and Transliterations גְרֻשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ גרשתיכם ḡə·ru·šō·ṯê·ḵem gerushoteiChem ḡərušōṯêḵemLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Ezekiel 45:9 HEB: עֲשׂ֑וּ הָרִ֤ימוּ גְרֻשֹֽׁתֵיכֶם֙ מֵעַ֣ל עַמִּ֔י NAS: Stop your expropriations from My people, KJV: take away your exactions from my people, INT: and practice Stop your expropriations from my people 1 Occurrence |
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